Bow and spreader bar

ABSTRACT

A bow and spreader bar has adjustable telescoping members for mounting slings thereon when lifting glass sheets and a pin mounted on the end of each telescoping member to mount the bar in holes provided on sides of an open-top trailer. In the mounted position, the bar supports the protective covering and aids in maintaining the trailer walls in spaced relationship to one another.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 911,598, filed June 1, 1978,now U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,168.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a spreader bar for lifting sheets and a bowbar for supporting a covering for open-top trailers.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art and Technical Problems

One mode of transporting glass sheets between supplier and customer isby securing the glass sheets on collapsible frames or racks mounted onthe bed of open-top trailers, e.g., trailers of the type taught in U.S.Pat. Nos. 2,969,284 and 3,066,924. The glass sheets are loaded on orunloaded from the frames by slings mounted on a spreader bar, e.g., ofthe type taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,721,757; 3,193,880; 3,549,190; and3,897,097. To assure the availability of a spreader bar, one is normallycarried on the trailer. Providing each trailer with a spreader barsolves the problem of availability but poses problems of handling and/orstorage. More particularly, the spreader bar normally weighs about 300pounds (135 kilograms) and is handled by the driver of the truck. Oneperson moving the bar on the trailer bed or floor in position to beconnected to the hook of a crane is difficult and can pose a hazard. Theprior art spreader bars are not easily stored when the trailer is emptyand the trailer bed prepared for receiving return pay load. For example,the frames used for supporting the glass are collapsed and secured atthe front end of the trailer to maximize available floor space. Becausethere are no provisions for storing the spreader bar, it remains on thetrailer floor decreasing available floor space for the return pay load.

It would be advantageous, therefore, to provide a spreader bar that doesnot have the drawbacks of the prior art spreader bars.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a spreader and bow bar for use in combinationwith an open-top trailer of the type having a deck, a pair of spacedwalls mounting the deck and facilities mounted on the walls forsupporting a plurality of bow bars. The spreader and bow bar has a rigidelongated body having facilities, e.g., pins, mounted thereon andcoacting with the support facilities, e.g., a channel having holestherein, for mounting the bow and spreader bar between the walls of thetrailer. Spaced members mounted the rigid body for containing a pair ofglass lifting slings in spaced relationship to one another.

This invention also relates to a method of handling sheets wherein themethod includes the steps of loading the sheets on a support membermounted on the bed of an open-top trailer and includes the steps ofmounting a pair of glass slings in spaced relationship to one another ona rigid bar and mounting the slings about a glass pack. Thereafter, theglass pack is positioned on the support members using the bar andslings. The slings are removed from the pack, and the pack is secured onthe support members. Thereafter, the bar is mounted on the walls of thetrailer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side elevated view of a truck and an open-top trailer havinga canvas mounted thereon which trailer may be used in the practice ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a top elevated view of the truck and trailer shown in FIG. 1with the canvas removed to show the spreader and bow bar incorporatingfeatures of the instant invention; the cargo in the trailer; and the bowbars for supporting the canvas;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an illustration having portions removed of the spreader andbow bar of the instant invention lifting a pack of loose glass sheets;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a top elevated view of the spreader and bow bar shown in FIG.5 having the slings and glass sheets removed for purposes of clarity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, there is shown a truck 20 and trailer 22 of the type used inthe art for shipping glass sheets 23. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3,the trailer 22 has a pair of spaced walls 24 and 25 mounted on bed ordeck 28 and a channel 30 mounted on inside surface 32 and 33 of the wall24 and 25, respectively. The channels 30 support (1) a plurality of bowbars 36 of the type used in the art and (2) at least one bow andspreader bar 38 incorporating features of the instant invention. The bowbars 36 and bar 38 (1) provide support for a canvas or tarpaulin 40(shown only in FIG. 1) for protecting the cargo of open-top trailersfrom the environment and (2) provide structural stability by maintainingthe trailer walls 24 and 25 in spaced relationship to one another.

The glass sheets 23 are secured in any conventional manner on A-frames42 of the type used in the art. The A-frames are preferably of the typethat are mounted on the trailer bed 28 for supporting the glass sheets;and after removal of the sheets, the frames are collapsed and storedadjacent the front end or nose wall 43 of the trailer to provide deckspace for return pay load or shipment. As will be appreciated, theinvention is not limited to the type of truck 20, trailer 22, A-frames42 or sheets 23 that may be used in the practice of the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 8, the bow and spreader bar 38 has acentral main member 44 for slidably receiving arm members 46 and 47 ateach end. The arm members 46 and 47 each have (1) a plurality of holes49 and a groove 50 formed on opposed surfaces 51 and 52 (shown in FIG.8) and (2) a stud 53 mounted at the free end as shown in FIG. 5.Selected ones of the holes 49 or the groove 50 of the members 46 and 47are aligned with respective ones of a pair of spaced holes 54 (shown onleft side of member 44 as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 8) to receive a lockingpin 56 (one only shown in FIGS. 5 and 8) to set the bar 38 at apredetermined length.

When the bar 38 is used for lifting glass sheets 23, a sling 58 ismounted between fingers or upright members 60 on the arms 46 and 47and/or fingers or upright members 61 on the central member 44. Theslings 58 are mounted about the glass sheets as is known in the glasssheet lifting art and the bar 38 lifted by a crane (not shown) connectedto bail 62. When the bar 38 is used as a bow for supporting the canvas40, the length of the bar 38 is adjusted so that the studs 53 of thearms 46 and 47 are mounted in holes (not shown) in respective ones ofthe channels 30 mounted on trailer walls 24 and 25.

Although not limited to the invention, it is recommended that the groove50 of the arms 46 and 47 be aligned with its respective hole 54 of themember 44 when mounting the bar 38 in the channels 30 of the truck wall.In this manner, the length of the bar can be easily adjusted tofacilitate the mounting of the studs 53 in the channels 30 (see FIG. 4).Further, it is recommended that the height of the fingers 60 and 61 ofthe arms 46 and 47 and member 44, respectively, be adjusted to slope thesupported canvas for moisture runoff.

As can now be appreciated, variations can be made to the spreader andbow bar 38 without deviating from the scope of the invention. Forexample, structural reinforcement of the bar 38 may be accomplished byusing plate members in place of thicker tubing to minimize bendingmoments while minimizing the weight of the bar. Further, the inventionis not limited to the type of glass slings that may be used to engagethe glass sheets and any of the types known in the glass handling artmay be used in the practice of the invention. Further, the spreader andbow bar 38 are not limited to lifting loose glass sheets and may be usedfor lifting glass sheets packed in crates, as well as for lifting metalsheets, wood sheets, crates or any other type of cargo normally shippedin trailers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 5-8, bow and spreader bar 38 of the inventionhave a central main member 44 having (1) a steel hollow tubing 64 havinga length of about 761/2 inches (1.9 meters); a height of about 6 inches(15.24 centimeters); a width of about 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) and awall thickness of about 5/16 inch (0.8 centimeter); (2) a steel plate 66having a width of about 3 inches (7.62 centimeters); a length of about693/4 inches (1.75 meters); and a thickness of about 3/16 inch (0.64centimeter) on the top and bottom surface of the central main portion asviewed in FIGS. 5 and 6; and (3) a second steel plate 68 having a lengthof about 311/2 inches (0.78 meter), a width of about 21/4 inches (5.72centimeters) and a thickness of about 0.1644 inch (0.42 centimeter) oneach of the plates 66 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The plates 66 and 68are symmetrical with the center of the steel hollow tube 64 and providea central main member 44 having structural stability against bendingmoments while minimizing its weight. A pair of holes 54 each having adiameter of about 17/32 inch (1.35 centimeters) are provided on opposedsides of the hollow tube 64 on a center-to-center spacing of about 581/4inches (1.46 meters) for receiving locking pin 56 (one pin 56 and onepair of holes 54 shown in FIGS. 5 and 8).

As shown in FIG. 6, bail 62 has an elongated steel plate 72 about 3/8inch (0.95 centimeter) thick and about 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) highwelded to the top plate 68 of the main member 44. Also referring toFIGS. 5 and 8, the bail 62 has a steel plate 74 having a length of about31 inches (0.79 meter), a maximum width of about 151/2 inches (0.38meter), and a thickness of about 3/8 inch (0.95 centimeter) formedaround and welded to the central member 44 and plate 72 to providestructural stability to the bail 62. A hole 76 provided in plates 72 and74 of the bail 62 receives a crane hook (not shown) for lifting the bar38.

With reference to FIGS. 5-7, sliding arms 46 and 47 are each made of (1)a hollow steel tubing 76 having a height of about 5 inches (12.7centimeters), a width of about 2 inches (5.08 centimeters), a wallthickness of about 1/4 inch (0.64 centimeter) and a length of about381/2 inches (0.99 meter) (2) a welded bottom steel plate 77 having awidth of about 21/4 inches (5.8 centimeters), a thickness of about0.1644 inch (0.42 centimeter) and a length of about 381/2 inches (0.99meter); and (3) a welded top steel plate 78 having similar width andthickness dimensions as the plate 77 but a length of about 413/4 inches(1.05 meters) to extend about 31/4 inches (8.26 centimeters) beyond thetubing 76 as shown in FIG. 5 to support a stud 53. The stud 53 having alength of about 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) and a diameter of about 7/8inch (2.20 centimeters) is welded to the plate 78. A reinforced plate 80having a width of about 21/4 inches (5.8 centimeters); a length of about73/4 inches (19.7 centimeters) and a thickness of about 0.1644 inch(0.42 centimeter) mounts the outboard portion of the plate 78 as shownin FIG. 5 to prevent bending moments of the stud 53 when the bar 38 issupported by the members 30 of the trailer 40 as shown in FIG. 4. Aplurality of holes 49 each having a diameter of about 17/32 inch (1.3centimeters) and a groove having a length of about 1 inch (2.54centimeters) are in opposed sides of the arms 47 and 48 on acenter-to-center spacing of about 33/8 inches (7.6 centimeters).

Two fingers 60 are mounted on each arms 47 and 48 and four fingers 61are mounted on the central member 44 on each side of the bail 62. Eachof the fingers 60 and 61 are made of steel rod having a diameter ofabout 3/8 inch (0.95 centimeter) and are mounted relative to one anotherto provide a spacing of about 33/8 inches (8.6 centimeters) forreceiving a glass sling 58 of the type used in the art and having anincremental height difference of about 7/16 inch (1.2 centimeters) toprovide a slope to the bar 38 similar to slope of the bows 36 (see FIGS.3 and 4). To slope the central portion of member 44, L-shaped steel rods82 having a diameter of about 3/8 inch (0.95 centimeter), a length ofabout 41/4 inches (10.8 centimeters) for the short leg and a length ofabout 18-9/16 inches (0.47 meter) for the long leg are mounted about thebail 62 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8.

In the practice of the invention, the bar 38 is extended to a length ofabout 112 inches (2.8 meters) and a quick release pin 56 is passedthrough aligned ones of the holes 54 and 49 of the member 44 and armmembers 46 and 47, respectively. A glass sling 58 is mounted between thefingers 60 of each arm 46 and 47. The slings 58 are positioned about theends of a stack of 5 glass sheets each having a length of about 130inches (3.3 meters); a height of about 96 inches (2.5 meters) and athickness of about 1/4 inch (0.64 centimeter). A crane hook (not shown)mounted in bail hole 76 lifts the bar 38 loaded with glass sheets intothe trailer 22 and onto a selected rack 42 in any conventional manner.Thereafter, the slings 58 are removed and the glass sheets secured toracks 42 in any conventional manner.

After the racks 42 are loaded and in accordance to the teachings of theinvention, the pins 56 are removed and the grooves 50 of each arm 46 and47 aligned with its respective hole 54 of member 44. Thereafter, thepins 56 are inserted through the holes 50 of the main member 44 andgrooves 50 of the arms 46 and 47. Bows 36 and bar 38 are mounted in thechannels 30 of the trailer 24 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and a canvas 40spread over the bows 36 and 38 and held in position in any conventionalmanner. The glass sheets are normally removed by practicing the abovesteps in the reverse order.

As can be appreciated, the invention is not limited to the above examplewhich is presented for illustration purposes only.

What is claimed is:
 1. A spreader and bow bar in combination with atrailer when the trailer is of the type having a deck, a pair of spacedwalls mounted on the deck and means mounted on the walls for supportingbow bars, wherein the spreader and bow bar comprises:a rigid elongatedbody having a center portion and opposed end portions; means mountingsaid body and coacting with said support means for mounting saidspreader and bow bar between the walls of the trailer to aid inmaintaining the walls in spaced relation to one another; and a pluralityof upright portions on said rigid elongated body for receiving a pair ofslings and maintaining the slings spaced from one another, selected onesof said upright portions having a height relative to one another toprovide a slope between the center portion and end portions of saidbody.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein:said rigidelongated body comprises:a central hollow body portion; an arm memberslidably mounted in each end of said central body portion; and means forsecuring said arm members in position; and said mounting means coactingwith said support means includes a stud adjacent an end of each of saidarm members.